Sterling Heights teen accused of making threats against school shooting sites

A 17-year-old resident of Sterling Heights was arrested and charged March 20 with one count of falsely reporting a threat of terrorism — a 20-year felony — and one count of using a computer to commit a crime — a felony punishable by 20 years to life in prison.

According to police, the suspect — identified as Dylan Alexander Clark — made a series of disturbing and harassing phone calls to several schools across the country, which were sites of past school shootings, including Sandy Hook, Columbine, Virginia Tech and Arapahoe.

After a subpoena search of phone records showed that the calls were being made from a Sterling Heights residence, authorities in Monroe, Conn. — the home of Sandy Hook Elementary School — contacted the Sterling Heights Police Department and an investigation was launched.

“Several blocked calls were initiated from the suspect’s home on Feb. 11 to Sandy Hook Elementary, where allegedly a younger male repeatedly made reference to the shootings and claimed to be a relative of the shooter, and then named all of the children who died in the tragedy,” said Sterling Heights Police Lt. Luke Riley.

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During the investigation, authorities learned that Arapahoe High School — the site of a December school shooting in Centennial, Colo. — also received a threatening phone call Feb. 11, which also originated from the same residence.

According to police, the caller threatened to burn the school down.

Sterling Heights police conducted an investigation and took the suspect into custody March 19. During a search of the suspect’s home, detectives recovered a laptop, a Kindle, a spiral notebook and cell phones.

While there was no threat or security issue imminent at any local school in this matter, Police Chief Michael Reese said the Sterling Heights Police Department took immediate action, as it does with all potential threats to any school or public facility.

For example, this past year the Sterling Heights Police Department announced enhancements to bolster security on the campuses of each of its Sterling Heights school districts. The new measures included increased security procedures at schools and enhanced patrols.

“We have worked very closely with Utica Community and Warren Consolidated school districts to improve security measures, and we feel that they are doing everything they can to be proactive and responsive to potential future threats,” Reese said. “This case is an example on how the Sterling Heights Police Department will remain vigilant and respond to all potential threats or pranks involving our schools to protect our kids.”